Bag closure means and method



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I BIXG- C LOSURE MEANS AND METHOD 4 Filed April 13, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 FiGi.

R. J. WILLIAMS ETAL- 2,404,337

BAG CLOSURE MEANS AND METHOD July 16, 1946.

Filed April 13, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-.6,

"Patented July 16, 1946 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oF BAG CLOSURE METHOD 1 Russell J. Williams, Richmond Heights, and Harold 0. Davis, 'St. Louis, Mo.-', assignors to Bemis Bro. BagCompany, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application April 13, 1944, Serial No. 530,809 I 1 This invention relates to a bag closuremeans and method, employing an adhesively attached cover strip. g

Among the several objects of the invention'may be noted the provision of a bag closure and a con- I venient method of manufacturing the same, in which a cover strip is pre-applied to a bag, which strip carries substantially permanently tacky adhesive for final closure but which adhesive is prevented from sticking prematurely to adjacent parts during shipment to the bag user; the prowill be exemplified in the structures and methods I hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims. i

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of variouspossible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. i is a diagrammatic plan view of one component of certain adhesive and first protective tape applying means;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the result of operations carried out upon the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged diagrammatic vertical section taken on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged diagrammatic horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of a second component for applying a cover strip and a sec- 'ond protective tape, parts being broken away;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of Fig. 6, being viewed from line 'l! of Fig. 6,:part's being broken away;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic, enlarged vertical section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic enlarged vertical section taken on line 99 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing certain parts folded outward, the dotted lines showing a transition operation toward the condition of rig-n; I v v a,

9 Claims. (01. zzsl-e'z) shownat I. 'may also be any equivalent of Fig. 11 is a view similar to" Fig. 10 showing a final operation of positioning the second prfotective tape;

Fig; 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing the protective strips removed and showing in dotted lineshow the closure is manipulated for finally closing a bag;

Fig. '13 is a vertical section showing alternative possibilities in respect to the second protective strip in connection withbag filling operations; and,

Fig. 14.15 a perspective view showingia completed closure on a bag, case liner or the like.

Similar reference characters indicate correspondingparts throughout the several views. of the "drawings. I J In'Figs. 1.and.2 is shown apptratusforapplying to the mouth end of a bag lsuch asishown overithe asphalt such as .CellophanePTThe bag may be of any. suitable variety, such.asfmultiply, waterproof paper,;closed at the :bottom. as

Its open mouth, is shown at 9. It

a bag," suchias a. case liner or'the like. v i

The apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2 consists in live rollers ll connected by a belt driverl3 to rotate .in the same direction indicated, one oithe rollers Gravity idler pressure rolls 21. are supported upon swinging frames 29 which pivot on pins 31. Pins 3| extend from a'frame 33. Extending from this frame 33 are other pins-35 carrying pressure guide springs 31; A straight-line guide 39 serves to direct themouth edgeofa'n entering bag I to pass under the springs 31 and into contact with the upper arc of roll IS. The combinations of rolls ll, 21 force the bag mouth forward, while'the springs 31 depress it into engagementwith the asphalt-faced edge of the disc [9. 'Thisa'pplies the band of asphalt which appears in Figs. 3,4 and 5. The purpose of the springs 31 isto assure that this band of asphalt will be carried entirely from edge to edge of the b'ag'mouth, as detailed at2inFig.4. To the right of the asphalt-applying apparatus'is a table 4| with a support 'for' a supply roll 410i a suitable cover material" such as, for example-a strip 5 Cellophane which is w der 3 than the asphalt band 3. This material is withdrawn from the roll 43 and is passed over an idler roller 41 to the top of the table 4|. edge of this strip 5 of protective material moves adjacent to the guide 39. Thus as the bag advances over the table from rollers ll, 21, one edge ofthe strip 5 becomes located next to one edge of the'bag mouth 9, and also next to one edge of the asphalt band 3. Thus the strip 5 covers the asphalt band 5 and adheres to it throughout the width of the bag on one of its sides 4.

Next, the cover strip 5 is cut so as'to leave'ex' One tensions 5|, indicated in Fig- 3. The above .mar-

ginally applies to one side l of the mouth of the;

bag a permanently tacky adhesive 3 covered by a removable protective strip 5. This is also indicated in the enlarged Figs. 4 and 5.

Figs. 6-9 show how a cover tape and an addi-i tional cover strip are applied to the other'side of the open mouth 9 of. the bag. The cover tape .per se is shown at numeral 53 in Fig. 8, for example, and may be of waterproof, .multieply or other paper, fabric or the like. In Fig. 6 a conit passes to the left (Fig. 6) into an ordinary folder 63 for symmetrical V-shaped folding upon itself with the asphalt. coat inside.

. Prior to. entering. the folder, a folded protective strip 61 is applied to about one-halfeof the coyepstpip 3, .This strip 61. is of a material like that of theprotective tape 49,.for example Cello-.

phane. It is withdrawn :from :a supply. such as indicated at .65 .(Fig. 7); passed over a guide roller 68 and drawn through afolder 69, wherein it-isfoldedupon iitself but preferably not quite symmetrically. For example, .one edgen'll' .(the

one toward the readenFig. 7) is allowed 'toex tend beyond the other edge 13. In vpassingoutof the folder 69, this strip is passed between a pair of creasing rollers l5 which are carriedon the ends of cross-pivoted scissor tongs H, the latter being pulled together by. means of. a spring. 19.

This biases the rollers 15 toward one another. .The pivot for the tongs is shown at.8l, being on and near the end of the folder69. Thus the folded Cellophane strip. is definitelypinched as it leavesthe folder and thu provided with a crease 83 which prevents it from springing open too readily. Unlike many other materials such as paper, Cellophane requires this extra creasing when leavingan ordinary folder.

Foldersordinarily cause enough break atthe crease'of some materials such aspaper to cause them to maintain their folded 'form.- Materials such as Cellophane do not obtain suflicient break in this manner to cause a crease .tobe maintained. By means of the spring bias rollers 15, the definite. break or crease 83 is assured whereby this protective strip properly maintains its folded condition. From; the creasing rollers, the folded tape 61 passes over a vertical guide roller 85 andxat roller 6! into engagement with theoutside as.- phalt 8'! on'one-half of the cover tape53. Align- '4 ganized asphalt-covered strip 53 and folded cover tape 6! pass through the folder 53, the month end of the bag (to which has been applied said asphalt strip 3 and cover 5; see Fig. 3) is fed.

into the jaws of the folder 63, along with 53 and 61 as indicated at the left ofFig. '7. This causes the exposed portion of the asphalt 81 to adhere one part of the cover tape to the side 6 of the bag mouth. This places it opposite to the previously applied strip 5. What occurs as the materials pass through the folder 63 is illustrated in Figs."8 and 9. After the bag mouth leaves :the folder 63, the ends of the combination of tape Gland 'coverstrip 53 are cut in line with the ends of the tabs'5 I.

. From the above it will be noted that the singleply Cellophane cover strip 5 and the folded double-ply .cover strip 61 prevent any folding overof the cover strip as shown in Fig. 9 from effecting an adhesion on side 4 of the bag. Adhesion occurs only of .tape 53 to sides of the bag. This is because "Cellophane 5 contacts Cellophane 5?. Thus the attached cover tape parts may freelybe reopened to the. position shown in I Fig. 10. The operator thenmanually. folds the 7 free par-t H .of. the folded. strip through the'dotted line position..-and. applies fingeripressure at the arrow shown .in-Fig. 1.1, which completes the coverage and protective effectof the strip 61.

Unclosed bags may be stacked for shipment,

either in the .condition shown in Fig; 11 or the cover strip maybe turned back to the Fig. 10 conditionbut-of vcourse'without reintroducing the exposure E. Thus, ineither event, the asphalt adhesive .is completely :protected against sticking to adjacent :parts.

When it comes time to filla are possible. One is to treat it as shown in Fig. 13 wherein the mouth is openedland the edgell allowed to position its central portions within the bag. Or 1: may be folded againsmsras'm Fig. 10) -After or before filling, the protective strips 5 and 61 may be ripped away by grasping their free edges and pulling them "from the tacky asphalt. It will be remembered that the adhesive is still tacky, beingof the requisitetype to producethis condition. It does not permanently harden during its useful life on the bag.

JStripping away these protective strip-s converts the bag from the condition shownin Fig. '11 e to that shown in Fig. 12. As stated, this may be done either after the bag is filled or before; 7 advantage of the invention is that'the loose edges of thestripsB and 61 are directed toward the bottom of the-bag (Fig. 11) so that an operator may have an effective purchase on the main'body of the :bag while pullingzoff the strips. 'This dis- V tingui'shes from a condition where the strips .ment is such that the retracted edge. l3fis about 1 at th upper edge at the tape 53 and hence also at the upperedge of said asphalt coatinglB'I. on tap 53. Edge,1 l of 6! is clean, As theormight have free edges extending int-he-otherdirection which would make it more difiicult to withdraw or separate them without a' suitable Durchaseon thebag. .Finally, lthebag may be closed by moving the free. endof the cover tape t! from the solid ine position shown in Fig. 12 through the dotted-line bag, two procedures I J position andoven the oppositevside of the bag. Since this brings'together.exposed 'areas of now exposed tacky asphalt, thefclosurebecomes com- 'pleted as shown in Fig-g 14. Ti? 1 1 It will be clear that a great degree of accuracy in applying the adhesive and protective strip is not essential; If the cover strip 6! falls short of the bag mouth by the distan'ce shown at E '(Fig. 10) due, for example, to errors in automatic application, this error may easily be corrected by the operation illustrated in Fig. 11,'wherein the extension H is sent through the 'dotted-line position-(Fig.- -10) -and -the -strip 61 pressed down to close 'th'e' g'apE. The-invention allows bags with pre-applied tacky adhesive and a cover tape to be shipped without danger of sticking to one another or adjacent articles. The method of manufacture is easy by the simplest of apparatus and may be carried out at high production rates.

Although the term bag has been used herein to identify the package form, it is to be understood that the invention applies to all similar articles such as case liners and the like.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made inthe above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A closure for the mouth of a bag or the like comprising a band of adhesive along one margin of the mouth, a removable protective strip covering said band, a cover tape covered on one side with adhesive and attached thereby to the other margin of said mouth and extending beyond the same, and a removable V-shaped protective strip having one side attached to the extending portion of said cover tape by the adhesive on the cover tape and having its other side freely movable.

2. A closure for the mouth of a bag or the like comprising a band of permanently tacky adhesive along one margin of the mouth, a removable protective strip covering said band and being wider than the same in a direction away from said mouth, a bendable cover tape covered on one side with tacky adhesive and attached thereby to the other margin of said mouth and when fiat extending beyond the same, and a removable V-shaped protective strip having one side attached to the extending portion of said cover tape by the adhesive on the cover tape and having its other side freely movable for laying over said first-mentioned protective strip either when the cover strip is fiat or when bent over said mouth.

3. A closure for the mouth of abag or the like comprising a band of adhesive along one margin of the mouth, a removable protective strip covering said band and being wider than the same in a direction away from said mouth, a bendable cover tape covered on one side with adhesive and attached thereby to the other margin of said mouth and when fiat extending beyond the same, and a removable V-shaped protective strip having one short side and one long side, said short the unattached edge of said tape or over said first-mentioned protective strip.

'4. :A CIOSHIGffOl the mouth of a bag or the like comprising a band 'of perm'anentlytac'ky adhesive on one margin of the mouth, a protective stripi coveringsaid band and being .widerthan the same in a direction away from'saidmouth, a bendable cover tape covered on one side with per-,- manently tacky adhesive and attached thereby to theother margin of said mouth and extending beyond the same, and a V-shaped Protective strip having one side attached to the extending portion or said cover strip by the adhesive on the tape. and having the other side freely movable for layingi'over said first-mentioned protective strip, the length of said second side being greater than that of the other, both of said protective strips being removable from the adhesive by a pull, whereupon the cover tape may be bent to cause exposed tacky adhesive thereon to adhere to said first-named band of tacky adhesive to close the bag.

bendable tape covered with tacky adhesive and attached to one margin of said mouth and extending therefrom, a band of tacky adhesive on the other margin of said mouth and covered by a protective strip flush with the bag mouth but wider than said band, and a protective strip covering the adhesive which is exposed on said cover tape and having a free marginal portion extending over the mouth of the bag and over said first-named protective strip, both of said protective strips being adapted to be removed from their supporting adhesive by stripping, whereby the cover tape may be folded to adhere said adhesives for closure purposes.

6. A closure for the mouth of a bag or the like comprising a band of adhesive along one margin of the mouth, a removable protective strip covering said band, a cover tape covered on one side with adhesive and attached thereby to the other margin of said mouth and extending beyond'the same, and a removable V-shaped protective strip having one side attached to the exe tending portion of said cover tape by the adhesive on the cover tape and having its other side freely movable, the juncture between the sides of the V-shaped protective strip being positioned closely adjacent to the mouth of the bag.

7. A closure for the mouth of a bag or the like comprising a band of adhesive along one margin of the mouth, a removable protective strip covering said band, said strip being wider than said band and extending in a direction away from the bag mouth, a cover tape covered on one side with adhesive and attached thereby to the other margin of said mouth and extending beyond the same, and a removable V-shaped protective strip having one side attached to the extending portion of said cover tape by the adhesiveon the cover tape and having its other side freely movable, the juncture between the sides of the V-shaped protective strip being posi-,

tioned closely adjacent to the mouth of the bag.

8. A closure for the mouth of a bag or the like comprising a band of adhesive along one margin of the mouth, a removable protective strip covering said band, said strip being wider than said band and extending in a direction away from the bag mouth, a cover tape covered on one side with adhesive and attached thereby to the other margin of said mouth and extending beyond the same, and a removable V-shaped protective strip having one side attached to the extending portion of said cover tape by the adhesive on the cover tape and having its other 5. A bag mouth construction comprising a side ifreelyemovable, the juncture between the sidesvof theNeshaped protective strip being positiqned closely adjacent to the mouth-of the bag, thelength of the freely movable side :of said-1vshaped protective strip'being greater than its attached side.

. 9.'.A.'c1osure for the mouth'cf a bag or the like comprising :a band No.1 adhesive along .one margin of the-.mcuth, a removablesprotective strip cov eringsaid band, said strip beingwider than saidband and extending at one edge a direction-away from the bag. mouth and at the other edge tb'eing substantially flush with said marijuana cover tape covered on :One vside with adhesive andtattached thereby to the other mar- 15 V 8 gin of said mouth and extending beyond the same, and a removable 'y-shapediprotective strip having one side attached to therextending TPOY- tion or said cover tape by the adhesive on the cover tape and having itsother sidie freely :mov-

able the edge of the attache'dsidc and that'oi the cover tape being flush, the juncture met-ween 

